Living to Serve

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile,” Said Albert Einstein.  Students in the Human Leadership class at Mead High School experienced this firsthand.  While studying servant leadership the class was challenged to find a need within society and develop a plan to meet that need through service.  Amber Moerker said, “Service is a word you hear used a lot, but often don’t completely understand it.  Service is when you do something that impacts another person; it can be anything from picking up trash to helping the needy.”  The group worked together to plan a service project to help hungry people in Nebraska.  The students called several agencies and organizations offering help.  They decided to serve lunch at the Lincoln People’s City Mission and purchase a Christmas Present for a little girl through Toys for Tots.     

This experience had a huge impact on the students in Mead’s Leadership Class.  “When we first arrived at the People City Mission butterflies instantly took over my stomach.  I was so nervous and a million “What Ifs” were flying through my head,” explained Abby Wageman.  On Wednesday November 19^th, after putting on hair nets, aprons, and gloves the students began to dish up lunch for hundreds of hungry people.  The first group to be served was the men.  Next, the women and children were served.  People walked through the line and were given one serving of bread, meat, and vegetables.  Each face that walked through told a different story. 

“Seeing these people lost, confused, and some looking completely hopeless was unsettling.  I tried to put myself in their shoes and imagine myself on the other side of the serving line, that’s when it hit me.  There is no time to be sad for theses people, they are probably sad enough.  What they need is someone who can take actions in helping them rebuild their lives,” Abby Wageman discovered.  The students were surprised to see that many of the people didn’t fit into their stereotypical image of a person in need.  Rhonda Wonder said, “If I walked past most of these people on the street I wouldn’t have imagined the challenges they have faced in their lives, they looked and dressed just like me.  I realized that anyone could be in this situation.”       

The few hours these students gave to help others made an impact on the people they serves; but more importantly it changed the students.  Amanda Heinke explained, “I realized how much I take advantage of having a cell phone, computer, roof over my head, food in my stomach, and a family there for me every time I need them.”  For many of the students this was an eye opening experience; they discovered the value of service.  Amber Moerker summed it up well, “At the end of the day, I realized that service isn’t something I was forced to do.  It is something I need to do and enjoy doing.”